The Violoncello

In days gone by it was customary for an author to apologise for the sin of adding another book to the quantity already published.

I am sure there was a certain amount of cant in this attitude; most authors are glad to see their works in print, and, as a rule, they express the pious hope that the first edition will be sold out almost as soon as the ink is dry.

The only apology I make is that I have not been able to add any more to the scanty knowledge respecting that talented - but most elusive - maker, Carlo Bergonzi. It is close upon ten years ago since I first commenced collecting material for a work on Bergonzi, during that time the opinions given on several instruments attributed to that glorious maker have been challenged by the experts of to-day. Indeed, one of the most reliable of the many who express expert knowledge on old Italian instruments says he has yet to come across a violoncello which he can truly say is the work of Carlo Bergonzi.

So the matter has to be left still in doubt. Like the examples given to Joseph del Jesu - they will, from time to time crop up only to raise discussion for a few days, then once more will come some authority and "give" the wonderful find to some lesser known Italian.